# Armida Siguion-Reyna

Armida Siguion-Reyna (born Armida Liwanag Ponce Enrile; November 4, 1930 – February 11, 2019) was a Filipina singer, film and stage actress, producer and television show host. She was the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board during the Estrada administration from 1998 to 2001.

## Early life and education

Armida Siguion-Reyna was born as Armida Liwanag Ponce Enrile on November 4, 1930, in Malabon, the daughter of Alfonso Ponce Enrile, her Spanish mestizo father who was a lawyer and regional politician, and Purita Liwanag, her mother who was one of the early graduates of the University of the Philippines College of Music. Siguion-Reyna spent her childhood with her parents and siblings in their house in Malabon. She studied at the Far Eastern University and Philippine Women's University, which are both in Manila. She also studied at the United States for her high school and college education. She completed high school at Academy of St. Joseph in New York, although, she did not finish her college studies at the Georgian Court University in New Jersey after being broken-hearted.
She was 18 years old when she and her sister, artist Irma Potenciano, met their half-brother Juan Ponce Enrile.

## Career
### Theatrical roles

In the world of operas, Siguion-Reyna performed lead singing roles in Lucia de Lammersville, Rigoletto, La Traviata, I Pagliacci, The Merry Widow, and the zarzuela Ang Mestiza (The Mestiza).

### Television

Siguion-Reyna was the presenter for the television programmes "Cooking Atbp." ("Cooking etc.") and the award-winning "Áawitan Kita" ("I Will Sing for You"). "Áawitan Kita" aired for over 30 years and was one of longest-running musical television shows in the Philippines.

### Music

Siguion-Reyna recorded musical albums such as the two volumes of "Aawitan Kita" (Villar Records), "Armida" (Dyna Music), and "Sa Lungkot at Saya... Aawitan Kita" ("In Sadness and Happiness... I Will Sing For You," Viva Records). In 2003, she released the album Pop Lola (Viva Records). The album includes the track "Tagubilin at Habilin", with music composed by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab.

### Film

In 1975, Siguion-Reyna was awarded best supporting actress during the Bacolod Film Festival for her performance in the film "Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Langit" ("In Between Two Heavens"). Later on she would be well known for collaborations with big names actresses such as Alma Moreno and a kontrabida (villain) to actresses Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor in several films. She is well known for also co-producing films with her son and having Maricel Soriano and Rosanna Roces in films and Dawn Zulueta these actresses have been in two films of Siguion-Reyna.

#### Producer

As a producer, Siguion-Reyna produced and starred in her own 16-mm film musicals entitled "Dung-aw," "Lakambini," "Supremo" (on the life on Andrés Bonifacio), "Pagpatak ng Ulan" ("When The Rain Falls"), and "Sisa." She had two film production companies. Her Pera Films company produced the movies "Laruang Apoy" ("Playing Fire") and "Bilanggong Birhen" ("Jailed Virgin"). She managed Reyna Films Company with her son Carlitos, who was a two-time award recipient.

### As a public servant

During the Presidency of Joseph Estrada, Siguion-Reyna was appointed as the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in 1998. She was known to be an advocate of freedom of speech and artistic liberties in film. Even before she became the chairperson of MTRCB, she fought against censorship and together with peers like Lino Brocka, Behn Cervantes and Ishmael Bernal, they had protested the actions of Siguion-Reyna's predecessors, specifically Manuel Morato and Henrietta Mendez.
When she was MTRCB's chair, her board members consisted of anti-censorship people. They were lenient in rating films to be shown publicly in theaters. Though, she was criticized for being biased on film produced by her own production outfit and by her friends. She countered her critics and said that the board did not grant permits to films showing purely sexual content and thus, the films were given X-rating, which means that those films were not suitable to be shown in cinemas.
Her term ended in 2001 after Estrada was ousted through the Second EDSA Revolution. She later ran for representative of the 1st district of Makati under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, but lost to former Press Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

## Death

Siguion-Reyna died of cancer in Makati at the age of 88, on February 11, 2019.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Production |
| 1939 | Yaman Ng Mahirap | Unnamed (first film appearance as an extra) | |
| 1973 | Babalik Ka Rin | | Bancom AudioVision |
| 1975 | Dung-Aw | Gabriela Silang | PERA Films |
| 1975 | Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Langit | | Florence Production & Co. |
| 1976 | Usigin ang Maysala | | Bairan Film Production |
| 1977 | Mga Bilanggong Birhen | Felipa | PERA Films |
| 1977 | Bianong Bulag | Biano’s Mother | LVN Pictures |
| 1978 | Atsay | Mrs. Yulo | Ian Film Productions |
| 1980 | Kakabakaba Ka Ba? | Madame Lily | LVN Pictures, ABS-CBN Film Productions (remastered version) |
| 1980 | Pag-ibig Na Walang Dangal | | Bancom Audiovision Corporation |
| 1981 | Jag Rodnar | Armida de Jesus | Sweden Productions |
| 1982 | Batch '81 | Sid's mother | MVP Pictures |
| 1983 | Paano Ba ang Mangarap? | Señora Francia Monteverde | VIVA Films |
| 1984 | Basag Ang Pula | Nida Rivera | Cine Suerte Inc. |
| 1984 | Somewhere | Doña Corazon Morena | VIVA Films |
| 1985 | Partida | Doña Lucila | FPJ Productions |
| 1985 | Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita? | Señora Amelia Abelardo | VIVA Films |
| 1985 | Till We Meet Again | Señora Rosario San Victories | Regal Films |
| 1986 | I Love You, Mama, I Love You, Papa | Doña Aurora Villena | Regal Films |
| 1986 | Inday, Inday sa Balitaw | Isabel Pabustan | Regal Films |
| 1986 | Magdusa Ka! | Doña Perla Doliente | VIVA Films |
| 1987 | Salamangkero | Mikula | Aces Film |
| 1988 | Huwag Mong Itanong Kung Bakit | Doña Elvira Cuevas | VIVA Films |
| 1988 | Ibulong Mo sa Diyos | Portia Quijano | Regal Films |
| 1988 | Hati Tayo sa Magdamag | Doña Concha Revilla | VIVA Films |
| 1989 | Barbi: Maid in the Philippines | Señora Elvira | FilmStar |
| 1989 | Wanted: Pamilya Banal | Doña Marissa Banal | FPJ Productions |
| 1990 | Nagsimula sa Puso | Mrs. Fernandez | Star Cinema |
| 1990 | Isabel Aquino: I Want to Live | Mrs. Rodriguez | Regal Entertainment |
| 1991 | Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M. | Mrs. Estrella | MRN Films |
| 1991 | Una Kang Naging Akin | Doña Margarita Soriano | VIVA Films |
| 1991 | Shake, Rattle & Roll III | Mrs. Redoblado | Regal Entertainment |
| 1992 | Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin | Cesar's mother | Regal Entertainment |
| 1995 | Harvest Home | Almeda | Reyna Films |
| 1996 | Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin | Ima | Reyna Films |
| 2002 | 9 Mornings | Lola Meding | Star Cinema |
| 2003 | Filipinas | Florencia Filipinas | VIVA Films |
| 2003 | Xerex | Juanita | Regal Entertainment |
| 2009 | Fuchsia | Juana | APT Entertainment |
| 2012 | Bwakaw | Alicia | Star Cinema |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2001–2003 | Sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka | Lourdes Lizandro | ABS-CBN |
| 2002–2003 | Kung Mawawala Ka | Romina Salgado | GMA Network |